76ERS: DiLeo: Bynum out indefinitely'

Philadelphia 76ers Andrew Bynum joins the team during a time out in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won, 86-79. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

PHILADELPHIA — Uncertainty surrounding Andrew Bynum has led the 76ers to plan around his absence. But there’s nothing uncertain about the word ‘indefinitely.’

It’s the term Sixers general manager Tony DiLeo used in describing how long Bynum will remain sidelined with bilateral bone bruises and weakened cartilage in each of his knees.

The Sixers removed all timetables for Bynum’s return, DiLeo said Saturday, before the Sixers hosted Oklahoma City. The only confirmed date is a re-evaluation and follow-up MRIs for the 7-footer in mid-December.

“We want to focus on our team now,” DiLeo said. “We want to put this behind us now. We don’t know when (Bynum) is coming back. We have a good team out there, a good coaching staff that’s doing a great job. We just want to focus on the team going forward. When there are updates, we’ll give them to you at the appropriate time.”

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So the plan to have Bynum enter Phase 2 of his rehab next month? Off the table. And the concept that he would require one to four weeks of basketball activities thereafter? No more. And the theory that he might play his first game in early to mid-January? Still possible, but not if you were to ask DiLeo.

DiLeo also made it sound as though the Sixers have a contingency plan, should Bynum never play.

The Sixers are taking the stance that Bynum will not return until he determines he’s healthy enough to do so. The team is getting out of the timetable-making business, and leaving Bynum’s availability entirely in his hands.

Here’s what the Sixers know: DiLeo said Bynum has been looked at by four doctors – Sixers team physician Jack McPhilemy, Bynum’s doctor David Altchek, and “two, well-respected international knee specialists” – and all of them agree on Bynum’s injury. None of that translates to a return date, though.

DiLeo emphasized that the Sixers have been forthcoming with their information regarding Bynum’s status. He said Bynum and his agent, David Lee, bought 50 tickets for the Oct. 31 opener. In the same breath, he admitted that the Sixers knew “it was a calculated risk” trading for a 25-year-old who’s had signs of bad knees throughout his career.

“We knew he had some problems with his knees in the past,” DiLeo said. “That’s something the franchise looked at and made the decision that it was OK.

“We also knew that we were getting the second-best center in the league, a franchise-type player and we took that risk,” DiLeo continued. “His knees now in the MRIs are not the same as they were at the time so it’s a different type situation. We are now looking big picture here, long term here. We’re hopeful that after this situation heals and we can get him back on the court that we can bank on him for the future.”

Bynum, who was not available for comment, has not practiced or played with the Sixers. Acquired Aug. 10 from the Lakers in a four-team deal, Bynum has not played since May 21, in a Western Conference semifinal against the Thunder.

The Sixers have to hope that Bynum plays at some point, if for nothing more than reaffirming why they traded all-star Andre Iguodala and a pair of first-round selections.

“Giving (Iguodala) up, we thought we were going to have one of the best post defenders,” said Sixers coach Doug Collins, who followed that with a lengthy pause.

The Sixers are optimistic Bynum, who suffered a right-knee injury engaging in individual drills prior to training camp and a left-knee injury Nov. 10 while bowling, understands he’s not only playing for the team that traded for him, but also for his next contract.

Bynum is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season. In order to have any shot at nabbing a maximum contract offer from the Sixers, in the form of five years at $100 million, or a lesser contract of four years, $80 million from another suitor, Bynum has to demonstrate that he’s healthy enough to play. The 25-year-old has said on more than one occasion that the pain in his knees would not be enough to keep him from the court “if all the marbles were on the table,” as in a postseason series.

DiLeo shrugged off the notion that Bynum may never wear a Sixers uniform.

“We hope he will be back. We’re anticipating he’ll be back at some point,” DiLeo said. “We hope he will be back. We have plans for the future if he is not back with us, but we are anticipating this (injury) is a short-term thing. We want to plan on him for the long term.”